System and method for controlling flow in a pipe using a finger valve

ABSTRACT

Described herein is a system and method for controlling flow in a pipe string using a finger valve. Specifically, the disclosure describes a finger valve comprising a base pipe and a sliding sleeve. The base pipe can comprise a finger port, one or more fingers; and one or more hinges, each of the hinges connecting one of the fingers to the base pipe. The sliding sleeve can comprise a sliding sleeve having a first sleeve with in inner surface comprising a void and a depressor. The first sleeve can be positionable in a first position and a second position. In the first position, the depressor can push the one or more fingers into a closed position. In the second position, the void can rest at least one of the one or more fingers, allowing the at least one of the one or more fingers to move into an open position.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation application of utility applicationSer. No. 13/425,399 filed Mar. 20, 2012.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a system and method for controlling flow in apipe string using a finger valve.

The demand for natural gas and oil has significantly grown over theyears making low productivity oil and gas reservoirs economicallyfeasible, where hydraulic fracturing plays an important part in theseenergy productions throughout the world. For several decades differenttechnology has been used to enhance methods for producing resources fromoil and gas wells. Long horizontal wellbores with multiple fractures isone commonly used process to enhance extraction of oil and gas fromwells. This process starts after a well has been drilled and thecompletion has been installed in the wellbore. Multi-stage fracking is amethod that involves pumping large amounts of pressurized water or gel,a proppant and/or other chemicals into the wellbore to create discretemultiple fractures into the reservoir along the wellbore.

One of the technologically advanced methods being used today issimultaneous proppant fracturing of up to thirty fractures in onepumping operation. This method involves usage of proppant to preventfractures from closing. However, this practice can usually cause anuneven distribution of proppant between the fractures, which will reducethe efficiency of the fracture system. As a result, this practice canalso cause fractures to propagate in areas that are out of the targetreservoir. Thus, such method can be inefficient and unsafe.

Additionally, proppant fracturing usually involves multiple steps andrequires several tools in order to be performed successfully. Suchpractice that will allow even distribution of proppant betweenfractures, highly depends on setting plugs between the fracture stagesor using frack balls of increasing sizes. In these methods, plugs areeither set after each fracture has been perforated and pumped, or frackballs are dropped from the surface to successively open fracturingvalves placed along the well. For each stage, balls of differentdiameters are dropped into the well corresponding to a specificfracturing valve's seat. At a point in the well, the ball will no longerpass through due to a decrease in well diameter. Once the ball is inplace, fracking can take place. After fracking, the plugs must bedrilled out and the balls must be recovered. With each fracturing stagewhile setting plugs, much time and energy is expended in tripping out ofthe hole between the stages and drilling out the plugs. Moreover,land-based rigs are usually rented per day basis, and so any delays canbe quite expensive. Also, only about 12 different fracture stages ispossible with the ball method before a restriction in flow area due tosmall ball diameter makes fracturing difficult due to large pressurelosses.

As such it would be useful to have a system and method for controllingflow in a pipe string using a finger valve.

SUMMARY

Described herein is a system and method for controlling flow in a pipestring using a finger valve. Specifically, the disclosure describes afinger valve comprising a base pipe and a sliding sleeve. The base pipecan comprise a finger port, one or more fingers; and one or more hinges,each of the hinges connecting one of the fingers to the base pipe. Thesliding sleeve can comprise a sliding sleeve having a first sleeve within inner surface comprising a void and a depressor. The first sleeve canbe positionable in a first position and a second position. In the firstposition, the depressor can push the one or more fingers into a closedposition. In the second position, the void can rest at least one of theone or more fingers, allowing the at least one of the one or morefingers to move into an open position.

The disclosure also describes a method for controlling flow in a pipestring using a finger valve, comprise the steps connecting a base pipewithin a pipe string, and actuating a sliding sleeve from a firstposition to a second position. The base pipe can comprise a finger port,one or more fingers; and one or more hinges, each of the hingesconnecting one of the fingers to the base pipe. The sliding sleeve cancomprise a first sleeve having an in inner surface with a void and adepressor. In the first position, the depressor can push the one or morefingers into a closed position. In the second position, the void canrest at least one of the one or more fingers, allowing the at least oneof the one or more fingers to move into an open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a side view of a base pipe.

FIG. 1B illustrates a front view of a base pipe.

FIG. 1C illustrates a cross sectional view of a base pipe.

FIG. 1D illustrates a cross sectional of a base pipe.

FIG. 2A illustrates a sliding sleeve connected to a fixed sleeve by anactuator, and in line with an outer ring.

FIG. 2B illustrates a front view of a sliding sleeve.

FIG. 2C illustrates a cross sectional view of a sliding sleeve.

FIG. 2D illustrates a cross sectional view of a sliding sleeve thatfurther comprises a fixed sleeve, and an actuator.

FIG. 3A illustrates a peripheral view of an outer ring.

FIG. 3B illustrates a front view of an outer ring.

FIG. 4A illustrates a valve casing.

FIG. 4B illustrates a fracking port of a valve casing

FIG. 4C illustrates a production slot of a valve casing.

FIG. 5 illustrates a finger valve in a closed mode.

FIG. 6 illustrates a finger valve in an open mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a system and method for controlling flow in a pipestring using a finger valve. The following description is presented toenable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention asclaimed and is provided in the context of the particular examplesdiscussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of anactual implementation are described in this specification. It will beappreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation(as in any development project), design decisions must be made toachieve the designers' specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- andbusiness-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from oneimplementation to another. It will also be appreciated that suchdevelopment effort might be complex and time-consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in thefield of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure.Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limitedby the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scopeconsistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

FIG. 1A illustrates a side view of a base pipe 100. Base pipe 100 can beconnected as a portion of a pipe string. In one embodiment, base pipe100 can be cylindrical, and can comprise a finger 101 and a finger port102. FIG. 1B illustrates finger 101 connected Finger 101 can connect tobase pipe 100 by a hinge 103. In one embodiment, a first biasing device104 can also connect base pipe 100 to finger 101. In another embodiment,first biasing device 104 can operationally be a part of hinge 103.Biasing device 104 can be a spring. By connecting first biasing deviceto finger 101 and base pipe 102, finger can be biased to an open orclosed position. For exemplary purposes, this disclosure illustratesfinger 101 biased in an open position. In another embodiment, biasingdevice 104 can be a portion of finger 101 and/or base pipe 100 that hasbeen magnetized to bias finger 101 into an open or closed position. Inone embodiment, base pipe 100 can also comprise a first portion offracking port 105 and/or a production port 106. First portion offracking port 105 can be made of one or more openings, and productionport 106 can also be made of one or more openings in base pipe 100.

FIG. 1C illustrates a front view of base pipe 100. Base pipe 100 canfurther comprise a chamber 107. When fingers 101 are in an openposition, chamber 107 can be an empty space or an opening that can allowmaterials to pass through. However, when fingers 101 are in a closedposition, the fingers 101 come together to create a significant orcomplete blockage to chamber 107, substantially or completely preventingmaterials from passing through base pipe 100.

FIG. 1D illustrates a cross sectional of a base pipe 100 furthercomprising base ring 108. In one embodiment finger port 102 can be aplurality of orifices spaced radially around base pipe 100. In anotherembodiment finger port 102 can be a cylindrical segment missing frombase pipe 100. First portion of fracking port 105 can be circularlyplaced around the middle part of base pipe 100. Production port 106 canbe circularly placed around the rear portion of base pipe 100.

FIG. 2A illustrates a sliding sleeve 200 connected to a fixed sleeve byan actuator 208, and in line with an outer ring 209. In one embodiment,sliding sleeve 200 can be a cylindrical material that can comprise asecond portion of fracking port 105. In one embodiment, sliding sleeve200 can have an opening large enough to fit base pipe 100. FIG. 2Billustrates a front view of a sliding sleeve 200. Sliding sleeve 200 canfurther comprise a sleeve chamber 201. Sleeve chamber 201 can be anopening large enough to house base pipe 100.

FIG. 2C illustrates a cross sectional view of a sliding sleeve 200.Sliding sleeve 200 can comprise a first sleeve 202 and a second sleeve203. Further, first sleeve 202 and a second sleeve 203 can be attachedthrough one or more curved sheet 204, the spaces between each curvedsheet 204 defining a portion of fracking port 105. Inner surface offirst sleeve 202 can comprise surface attributes that interact with oneor more fingers 101. Surface attributes can comprise a first attributeand a second attribute. First attribute can be one or more voids 205 andsecond attribute can be a depressor 206 capable of moving finger 101 toa closed position. Void 205 can extend radially around the completeinner diameter of base pipe 100, partially around the inner diameter, orlocal to a single radial position. If completely around the innerdiameter, the ends of inner surface can have a smaller diameter than thevoid. If local, void 205 can comprise a plurality of local depressionspositioned radially around the inner surface of sliding sleeve 200.

FIG. 2D illustrates a cross sectional view of a sliding sleeve 200further comprising fixed sleeve 207, connected to fixed sleeve 207 byactuator 208, and in line with outer ring 209. In one embodiment,actuator 208 can be a biasing device such as a spring. Second sleeve 203of sliding sleeve 200 can be attached to fixed sleeve 207 using actuator208. In one embodiment wherein actuator 208 is a biasing device, slidingsleeve 200 can be pulled towards fixed sleeve 207, thus compressing orotherwise load biasing device 208 with potential energy. Later biasingdevice 208 can be released or otherwise instigated, pushing slidingsleeve 200 away from fixed sleeve 207. In another embodiment, actuator208 can retrieve sliding sleeve 200 to its original position. Fixedsleeve 207 is depicted in the above figures as a cylinder, but inpractice may not be a continuous loop. Instead, fixed sleeve 207 may beany device or devices connected to base pipe 100 that gives actuator 208a foothold to push connect to or push against to actuate sliding sleeve200. In one embodiment, fixed sleeve 207 can be a component of actuator208.

FIG. 3A illustrates a peripheral view of outer ring 209. In oneembodiment outer ring 209 can be a solid cylindrical tube forming a ringchamber 301, as seen in FIG. 3B. In another embodiment, outer ring 209can be attached to base ring 108 of base pipe 100. In one embodimentouter ring 209 can be an enclosed solid material forming a cylindricalshape. A ring chamber 301 can be the space formed inside outer ring 209.Ring chamber 301 is large enough to slide over base pipe 100. Outer ring300 can be fixed to base pipe 100. In one embodiment, outer ring 209 canbe used to halt forward progress of sliding sleeve 200 during actuation.

FIG. 4A illustrates a valve casing 400. In one embodiment, valve casing400 can be a cylindrical material, which can comprise a third portion offracking port 105, and production port 106. As such third portion offracking port 105 can be a plurality of openings circularly placedaround valve casing 400, as seen in FIG. 4B. Further, production port106 can be one or more openings placed around valve casing 400, as seenin FIG. 4C.

FIG. 5 illustrates a finger valve 500 in a closed mode. In an embodimentwherein fracturing valve 500 can be used in fracturing a well,fracturing valve 500 can comprise base pipe 100, sliding sleeve 200,outer ring 300, and/or valve casing 400. In such embodiment, base pipe100 can be an innermost layer of finger valve 500. A middle layer aroundbase pipe 100 can comprise outer ring 300 fixed to base pipe 100 andsliding sleeve 200, wherein fixed sleeve 207 is fixed to base pipe 100.Finger valve 500 can comprise valve casing 400 as an outer layer. Valvecasing 400 can, in one embodiment, connect to base ring 108, outer ring209 and fixed sleeve 207. In a fracking position, fracking port 105 canbe aligned and open, due to the relative position of base pipe 100 andsliding sleeve 200.

At an open state, biasing device 208 can be in a loaded state furthermoving the hinges and pushing finger 101 into chamber 107. In suchstate, finger 101 can be in a closed form, blocking the path of fluid inchamber 107. Finger valve 500 can be useful in fracturing a well, forexample, as shown in FIG. 5, in a closed state fracking port 105 will beopen, allowing flow of proppant from chamber 107 through fracking port105 and into a formation, thereby allowing fracturing to take place.

FIG. 6 illustrates finger valve 500 in open mode. As sliding sleeve 200is pushed towards outer ring 209 by biasing device 208, finger 101 canbe pushed to rise up. When used in well fracturing, sliding sleeve 200can concurrently close fracking port 105 and open production port 106,allowing materials to pass through base pipe 100. Once production port106 is opened, extraction of oil and gas can start. In one embodiment, aplurality of finger valves 500 can be put in a well. After one has beenused to fracture a well, another can be used downstream. In suchembodiment, each production port can have a check valve to allowfracking to continue downstream without pushing frack fluid through theproduction port.

Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methodsare possible without departing from the scope of the following claims.Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as beingseparate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may beomitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the methodis being implemented in. It is to be understood that the abovedescription is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Forexample, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination witheach other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill inthe art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the inventionshould, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims,along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims areentitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which”are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A finger valve comprising a base pipe comprisinga finger port; one or more fingers; and one or more hinges, each of saidhinges connecting one of said fingers to said base pipe; and a slidingsleeve comprising a first sleeve having an in inner surface, said innersurface comprising a void and a depressor, said first sleevemaneuverable into a first position, wherein said depresser pushes saidone or more fingers into a closed position; and a second position,wherein said void rests over one of said one or more fingers, allowingsaid one or more fingers to move into an open position.
 2. The fingervalve of claim 1, wherein said one or more fingers comprises two or morefingers.
 3. The finger valve of claim 1 further comprising one morefirst biasing devices, each of said first biasing devices biasing one ormore of said fingers to an open position.
 4. The finger valve of claim3, wherein at least one of said first biasing devices is a structuralcomponent of one of said hinges.
 5. The finger valve of claim 3, whereinat least one of said first biasing devices is a spring.
 6. The fingervalve of claim 3, wherein at least one of said biasing devices is amagnetized portion of one of said fingers.
 7. The finger valve of claim3, wherein at least one of said biasing devices is a magnetized portionof said first sleeve.
 8. The finger valve of claim 1, wherein said voidcomprises a plurality of depressions, each depression allowing one ormore of said one or more fingers to move into said open position.
 9. Amethod for controlling flow through a pipe string comprising the stepsconnecting a base pipe within a pipe string, said base pipe comprising afinger port; one or more fingers; and one or more hinges, each of saidhinges connecting one of said fingers to said base pipe; and actuating asliding sleeve from a first position to a second position, said slidingsleeve comprising a first sleeve, said first sleeve comprising an ininner surface, said inner surface comprising a void and a depressor,wherein in said first position, said depresser pushes said one or morefingers into a closed position; and said second position, said voidrests over one of said one or more fingers, allowing said one or morefingers to move into an open position.